Storm Kristin Devastates Portugal: Five Lives Lost Amid Extreme Weather

Thu Jan 29 2026 20:16:51 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

At least five people have tragically died as Storm Kristin wreaks havoc across central and northern Portugal, causing extensive damage, collapses, and severe travel disruptions.

Storm Kristin has caused the deaths of at least five individuals in Portugal due to severe flooding, landslides, and high winds. The storm led to widespread power outages, transportation chaos, and significant property damage, including the partial collapse of buildings. Local officials are calling for emergency declarations as authorities assess the aftermath of this extreme weather event.

At least five people have died after Storm Kristin tore through central and northern Portugal, causing flooding, landslides, and widespread damage.

The storm, which the government described as an extreme climactic event, left schools shuttered, buildings damaged, and travel severely disrupted.

In the coastal city of Figueira da Foz, a Ferris wheel overturned and several vehicles were hit when part of a roof was torn from a building.

Portugal has been hit by a succession of storms in recent days, including one over the weekend in which a man died after his car was swept away in floods.

Heavy rain and wind gusts of up to 150km (95 miles) per hour caused more than 3,000 weather-related incidents across the country, civil protection authorities reported. Several people were struck by falling trees or debris.

The strongest winds were recorded at the Monte Real air base in Leiria, where gusts of 178km were logged before the monitoring equipment was destroyed. Officials mentioned that this location likely marked the storm's entry point to mainland Portugal.

According to electricity distributor E-Redes, more than 850,000 people lost power on Wednesday due to the storm.

Authorities reported two fatalities in the Leiria district, with one person being struck by a metal sheet and another trapped under debris from a building. Local media also reported another death in Vila Franca de Xira caused by a tree falling on a car.

Transportation has faced severe disruption, with roads—including the major motorway connecting Lisbon to the north—and railways blocked by debris.

Ten coastal areas were under a red weather warning on Wednesday due to dangerous sea conditions, anticipating waves as high as 14m (45ft, 11in), according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).

The PSP (Public Security Police) has advised residents in Coimbra and Leiria to remain indoors, and Portugal's Secretary of State for Civil Protection stated that the country remains on maximum alert.

Prime Minister Luis Montenegro expressed condolences to the families of the victims. He stated that officials are evaluating the damage and will take whatever measures are necessary.

Leiria's mayor, Goncalo Lopes, called for the government to declare a state of emergency, emphasizing that the recovery effort will require significant resources. We have public spaces turned upside down, he mentioned. The impact is similar to what a bomb could mean in our city, with massive destruction.

After traversing Portugal, Storm Kristin moved east into Spain, continuing to bring snow, rain, and strong winds.